Adjustable stepladder



July 2, 1935. A H, D VER 2,006,674

ADJU STABLE STEPLADDER Filed Jan. 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l llh-flllllrflllll y 1935. A. H. DIVER 2,006,674

ADJUSTABLE STEPLADDER Filed Jan. 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I i/dl 9 0 By 2mm Attorney Inventor j Y P J Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE STEILADDER' Arthur H. Diver, Naugatuck, Conn;

Application January 24, 1935, Serial No. 3,333

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an adjustable stepladder, the general object of the invention being to make the rear legs of the ladder adjustable as to their lengths so that the ladder can be used on Stairways, on a hillside to pick from trees and the like and wherever it is necessary to shorten or lengthen the rear legs of the ladder to use the same.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view showing the improved ladder in use on a stairway.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation with parts in section showing the rear leg assembly in extended position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the lower section.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the rear leg assembly.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear View of the upper section.

In these drawings, the letter A indicates the front part of the ladder which carries the steps a and the letter B indicates the rearwardly extended top step of the ladder, these parts being formed in the usual or in any desired manner.

In carrying out my invention, 1 make the rear leg assembly C oi": upper and lower sections, the upper section including a pair of uprights I connected together by the cross bars 2, the ends of the front cross bar being extended as shown at 3 to fit in openings in the rear part of the upper step B so as to pivot the upper section to said upper step to permit the rear leg assembly to be swung towards or away from the front member A. Longitudinally extending metal straps 4 are bolted to the outer faces of the uprights I as shown at 5 and the rear edges of these plates or strips are provided with teeth 6, formed as shown more particularly in Fig. 2 with the parts projecting rearwardly from the rear edges of the uprights. A guide rod I passes through the lower ends of the uprights and has its ends projecting from the outer faces of said uprights as shown in Fig. 5 and the lower ends of these uprights are rounded as shown at 8 in Fig. 2. The lower section is also composed of the uprights Si and adjacent the lower ends, these uprights are connected together by the bar I0 and an adjusting rod I I extends across the space formed by the upper ends of the uprights 9 which ends enter the holes in said upper ends, this rod being adapted to engage the teeth. These uprights 9 are also provided with the longitudinally extending slots it for receiving the projecting ends of the rod '5 which acts to guide the lower. section in its movement and after the parts are assembled with the uprights 9 of the lower section slidably engaging the outer faces of the uprights 4 of the upper section with the rod I having its ends passing through slots I2, plates I3 are fastened to the outer faces of the uprights 9 of the lower section, these plates covering the slots and preventing longitudinal movement of the guide rod 1. Facing plates I4 are secured to the rear faces of the uprights 9 and the uprights are connected together by the upper and lower cross plates l5 and the diagonal brace bars I6.

Angle-shaped brackets I! are connected to the upper ends of the lower section by their vertical limbs, with their horizontal limbs extending forwardly over the upper ends of the lower section and a spring I8 is connected to each of these horizontal limbs and each spring has an eye at its front end through which passes a shaft or rod l9 which carries the pair of flanged rollers 20 for engaging the front edges of the uprights I of the top section as shown in Fig. 3. As will be seen from this figure, these flanges are arranged at the inner ends of the rollers so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft I9. Washers 2i are held on the ends of the shaft I9 by the cotter pins 22. The usual foldable brace members 23 connect the rear leg assembly with the front member A.

When it is desired to adjust the length of the rear leg assembly, it is simply necessary to exert a rearward pull on the top cross piece I5 of the lower section which will stretch the springs I8 and move the rod I I out of engagement with the teeth of the plates, 4 and then the lower section can be adjusted to the desired position to make the rear leg assembly of the proper length. Then the bar I5 is released and the springs I8 will pull the upper end of the lower section back into position with the bar II engaging the desired teeth of the plates 4 so that the rear section is held to the upper section in the desired position.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A ladder of the class described comprising a rear leg assembly including a top section and a lower section, the top section consisting of uprights having teeth projecting from their rear edges, the lower section consisting of uprights, a, bar connecting the upper ends of the uprights of the lower section together and adapted to engage the .teeth, a shaft having rollers thereon engaging the front edges of the uprights of the upper section, and spring means for connecting the shaft with the upper end of the lower section. V

2. A ladder of the class described comprising a rear leg assembly including a. top section and a lower section, the top section consisting of uprights having teeth projecting from their rear edges, the lower section consisting of uprights, a bar connecting the upper ends of the uprights of the lower section together andadapted to engage the teeth, a shaft having rollers thereon engaging the front edges of the uprights of the upper section, and spring means for connecting the shaft with the upper ends of the lower section, the uprights of the lower section having longitudinally extending slots therein, and a. cross rod carried by the uprights of the upper section adjacent a. lower end of said upper section, the ends of the rod projecting from the outer faces of said uprights and entering the slots' 7 ARTHUR H. DIVER. 

